A product recall is a request from a manufacturer to return a product after the discovery of safety issues or product defects that might endanger the consumer or put the maker or seller at risk of legal action. Product recalls are one of a number of corrective actions that can be taken for products that are deemed to be unsafe, and can seriously injure or kill a person. The recall is an effort to limit ruination of the corporate image and limit liability for corporate negligence, which can cause significant legal costs. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to determine how costly can be releasing to the consumer a product that could endanger someone's life and the economic loss resulting from unwanted publicity. Recalls are costly. Costs include having to handle the recalled product, replacing it and possibly being held financially responsible for the consequences of the recalled product. A country's consumer protection laws may include specific requirements in regard to product recalls. Such regulations may include how much of the cost the maker will have to bear, situations in which a recall is compulsory (usually because the risk is big enough), or penalties for failure to recall. The firm may also initiate a recall voluntarily, perhaps subject to the same regulations as if the recall were compulsory. Some standards for product recall is the British Standards Institute's PAS 7100:2022 standard, Supporting Better Product Recalls, aims to help businesses plan in advance for conducting a product recall.
General steps to a product recall The steps involved in a product recall vary by country and by industry, but generally follow a similar sequence. Businesses begin by investigating the problem, identifying the affected products, batches, and their distribution within the supply chain. Authorities may be notified early in the process. A risk assessment is then carried out to determine whether a recall is necessary, and whether it should be limited to a trade-level recall—in which products are withdrawn from wholesalers, distributors, or retailers—or extended to a consumer-level recall, which applies when products have already been sold to the public and requires direct consumer notification. Trade-level recalls are typically associated with quality or labelling issues, while consumer-level recalls usually involve safety hazards such as contamination or undeclared allergens. If a recall proceeds, businesses usually place affected stock on hold and inform distributors, retailers, and consumers as appropriate. Consumer-level recalls are often publicized through government websites, company websites, social media, press releases, and point-of-sale notices, and in some cases consumers are contacted directly. Consumers are generally asked to return the affected product for a refund, replacement, or modification. Retailers and distributors report the quantities returned, enabling the recalling business to reconcile these with production figures and determine whether further product remains in circulation. Once the recall is complete, businesses typically conduct an internal review to assess the effectiveness of the recall, identify any unreturned product, and put in place measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future. Legal requirements for consumer compensation, notification procedures, and the degree of government involvement vary by jurisdiction. Some standards for product recall is the British Standards Institute's PAS 7100:2022 standard, Supporting Better Product Recalls, aims to help businesses plan in advance for conducting a product recall.
Recalls by industry
Automotive recalls In general, the number of recalls has been increasing – with an exception during the economic crisis of 2009–2010 – due to time, cost and market pressure. Per year, global automotive warranties are estimated as US$40 billion, 3–5% loss in sales. Low-priced production often leads to minor quality, and outsourcing leads to a shift of knowledge concerning techniques and processes. This way, technical failures are more likely to occur due to communication problems between the different parties engaged in the supply chain and missing definitions for technical interfaces. Despite the increasing number of recalls, a Mojo Motors study found only .005 percent of customers ask about recalls when contacting dealerships. Since 1966, 390 million motor vehicles have been recalled in the USA. 29 million cars were recalled in 2018. That number is down from its peak of 50 million in 2016, but on average, recalls are on the rise. More cars have been recalled between 2015 and 2020 than between 2003 and 2014. According to National Highway Safety Traffic Administration data, there were approximately 31,269,261 vehicles recalled in 2025. Ford Motor Company issued more recall orders than any other automaker throughout the year. Overall, there were approximately 11% fewer recalled vehicles in 2025 than in 2024 (35,020,507). Some of the largest automotive recalls include 1.12 million cars recalled by Toyota in December 2022. The recall included various models of Avalon, Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Lexus ES series, RX350 Highlander, and Sienna Hybrid, due to a fault in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors that could cause the airbags not to deploy as designed. Manufacturers have to notify the owner when there is a recall notice, but in the case of a second, third or fourth owner of the car, the company may be sending the notice to a previous one.
Food recalls
Over 3000 food products were recalled in the US in 2016 according to the US Food and Drug Administration Enforcement reports. Individual recall events caused by contamination from foreign bodies (physical contamination from metal, glass, plastic, wood etc.) has increased by 76% in 2016 compared with 2015. This increase in 2016 is even more marked when looking at the number of products recalled (as opposed to recall event) due to foreign body contamination. In 2016 there were 422 products recalled due to foreign body contamination, whilst in 2015 there were 108; almost a 300% increase.
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